On June 24th, 2020, members of the 'M' Division Crime Reduction Unit arrested two individuals for drug-related offences.
Officers located a suspect vehicle with two occupants and placed the driver of the vehicle under arrest for Trafficking a Controlled Substance. Officers seized:
- Cash;
- An amount of suspected crack cocaine;
- Packaging materials.
Shortly after the arrest of the driver, officers arrested the vehicle's passenger while he was leaving a room at a local motel. The man was placed under arrest for Trafficking a Controlled Substance.
A warrant to search the room at the motel was granted, which resulted in the seizure of:
- An amount of suspected crack cocaine;
- An amount of suspected powder cocaine;
- An amount of believed heroin/fentanyl;
- Various prescription pills;
- Cash;
- Brass knuckles;
- Packaging materials;
- Drug paraphernalia.
Ryan Lewis, 34, and Lance Brackenbury, 29, both of Whitehorse have been charged with the following under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA):
- Two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking;
- One count of Trafficking a Controlled Substance.
As well as the following under the Criminal Code:
- One count of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon.
Both Lewis and Brackenbury were released by way of an Undertaking. They will appear in court on September 2nd, 2020.
On June 25th, CRU officers conducted a traffic stop in Porter Creek. A search of the vehicle and occupants resulted in the seizure of:
- An amount of suspected crack cocaine
- Cash
Daniel Lamoureux, 30, and Jennifer Johnson, 38, were arrested and charged with the following:
- Trafficking a Controlled Substance under the CDSA;
- Posession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking under the CDSA;
- Fail to Comply with a Probation Order, under the Criminal Code.
Both Lamoureux and Johnson were released by way of an Undertaking and will appear in court on September 2nd, 2020.
On June 26th, CRU members conducted a traffic stop in Riverdale, resulting in the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of:
- An amount of suspected crack cocaine;
- Cash;
- Cell phones.
Riley Sunshine, 21, and Cassidy Anderson, 18, are charged with the following under the CDSA:
- Trafficking a Controlled Substance;
- Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking.
Sunshine and Anderson appeared in court on June 27th and were released on conditions. They will next appear on July 15th, 2020.
"The Yukon RCMP Crime Reduction Unit targets drug traffickers, not users who are often in a vulnerable situation," said Yukon RCMP Chief Superintendent Scott Sheppard. "We are committed to helping our most vulnerable population not only by stemming the flow of drugs into and around the Territory, but by providing resources to Yukoners who struggle with addiction problems."
Harm reduction and addiction resources are available to the public on the Yukon Government's website.